Young-Ho went on an early career rampage, and by April 1976, the
24 year-old - 'Korean Terror' had won the 'vacant' OPBF Lightweight
Championship be defeating (W Dec 12) highly-regarded veteran Philippine
Lightweight - Tony Jumao-As.

With a record of 32-3-2 (22 KO's), the #7 WBC-ranked Young-Ho had
an outside shot at the WBC Lightweight Championship.

But Ishimatsu 'Guts' Suzuki (WBC Lightweight Chamoion) got a great
fight purse offer ($200,000) to go to Puerto Rico, to transfer his
'title belt' to Esteban De Jesus.

That loss snapped the Korean's 20-bout winning streak, and dropped
him to 32-4-2.

But, Young-Ho rebounded with 'two' more OPBF Lightweight Title defenses, by (KO 4)
over Sperling Pangaribuan, and then a shocking (KO 1) over Philippine veteran
- Fred Rolando Pastor.

By May 1977, the 25 year-old - 'Korean Terror' was hoping for a Lightweight Championship
bout with Esteban De Jesus, as Young-Ho was now ranked as the #4 WBC Lightweight with
a record of 38-4-2 (26 KO's).

In April 1978, 26 year-old - Young-Ho was now ranked as a the #1 WBA Super-Featherweight
at 42-5-3 (26 KO's) and earned a 'Championship Bout' versus Samuel 'Sammy' Serrano as the
mandatory challenger.

Saurday Night - July 8, 1978

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WBA Super-Featherweight Champion - Samuel 'Sammy Serrano. The 25 1/2 year-old Champion
at 37-3-1 (11 KO's) will be making his '6th Title Defense'. The 5' 9 1/2" Champion will have a
4 1/2" height and 5" reach advantage over his shorter Korean Challenger.

The Fight

The Champion utilized his longer reach to his advantage right from the start, and stayed outside
using his left jab, and quick right-hand counters, as Young-Ho pressed forward.

By Round 3, it was obvious, that the Korean would have an extremely difficult task in getting close
to the elusive Champion, as Serrano was too fast for the hard-punching Young-Ho.

The Korean had some brief moments of success in Rounds 4 and 5, as he was able to get closer to the
Champion, and did land some grazing right hands to Serrano's chin, but his effective attack was soon
thwarted.

In Rounds 6 and 7, Serrano landed a variety a good punches on Young-Ho, which seemed to take the
energy out of the Challenger. The Korean was no longer pressing and trying to throw his hard right hand,
but was now limited to pawing with weak punches while trying to get inside the taller Serrano.

In Round 8, Serrano measured the weakened Challenger, and raked him over with hard right hands over
the top, and wobbling him with 'two' chopping right hands to the chin late in the round.

In Round 9, Serrano battered the Korean early, and had him wobbling. Then at the 1:55 Mark, Serrano
dropped Young-Ho with a 4-punch flurry. The Korean got up at the '4-Count', and tried to fight back.
But, Serrano was over-powering and battered him with lefts and rights, before dropping him with a
hard right-hand at the 2:49 Mark.

Young-Ho struggled to get up, and though he did rise before the '10-Count', Referee - Luis Sudiran
counted out the Korean, as he was out on his feet, and in 'no-shape' to continue as he staggered
back to his corner.

Though Young-Ho's handlers wanted to send him out for Round 10, as they thought their fighter was
saved by the bell at the end of Round 9. But the Referee said he counted out the Korean at the end of
Round 9 before the bell rang.

That put him back in line for a chance at one of the 'vacant' Lightweight Championships,
with a record of 45-6-3 (28 KO's), and holding the OPBF Lightweight Championship, he was
ranked as the #4 WBC Lightweight.

Jim Watt won the 'vacant' WBC Lightweight Championship on April 17, 1979 - and Young-Ho
was in line for a possible WBC 1979 Championship bout.

Young-Ho Oh, after losing a 10-Round Decision to Kwang-Min Kim on
April 22, 1979 -

Goes inactive for 10-Months.

Then, on February 22, 1980 - Young-Ho defends his OPBF Lightweight Championship
for a '7th-Time, by scoring a (KO 1) in '50-seconds' over Yidano Lee 15-2-2 (6 KO's).

Note: Young-Ho had also scored a (KO 3) over Yidano Lee back in March 1979, which
was Yidano Lee's last bout, and Young-Ho's last win.

The win improves Young-Ho to 46-7-3 (29 KO's), and suprisingly moves him back into
the #8 WBA Lightweight position.

Young-Ho then does not fight for another 5-months, when 'Bingo', on August 2, 1980
he finds himself in Detroit at the Joe Louis Arena as an 'approved' Challenger for WBA
Lightweight Champion - Hilmer Kenty.

Recap, Young-Ho Oh has had exactly 'one-fight' in 15 1/2 months, which lasted all of
50-seconds, and the WBA approves him as a Lightweight Challenger.

The 25 year-old Champion, with a record of 17-0-0 (12 KO's), is a
10-1 Betting-Favorite.

At 5' 10 1/2", Hilmer will have a 5 1/2" height advantage, and a 6" reach
advantage over his 28 year-old Challenger, and OPBF Lightweight Champion.

Nobody in the Joe Louis Arena thinks Young-Ho will last more that 4-Rounds,
against the fast-punching Hilmer Kenty.

The Fight

Hilmer goes right after the Korean, and starts pummelling away, looking
for an early knockout for his hometown fans of Detroit.

The Champion is hitting away, but Young-Ho takes the battering,
and is still standing after 4-Rounds. Though Hilmer is over-powering
his Challenger, he fails to floor him.

In Round 5, Hilmer again tries for the knockout, but even after
hitting Young-Ho with his best punches, the Korean is still there in front
of him.

Hilmer Kenty looks arm-weary at the end of Round 5.

In Round 6, Young-Ho moves in closer to the Champion, to thwart
his long-range attack, and scores with his own one-two's to Kenty's
body. Kenty has to box and move more, as he is looking to catch
his second wind.

In Round 7, to the shock of everyone, Young-Ho is actually trying to
press the fight, and is moving forward, backing the Champion up.

As Hilmer tries to land a right hand lead, he misses, and Young-Ho counters
with a crushing right hand to Kenty's chin. Hilmer wobbles, and
is in some trouble and he backs to the ropes. Young-Ho moves in, and
scores with several crisp punches, as Kenty tries to grab the Korean.

The Champion, manages to hold on, and by the end of the Round has
regrouped, and starts to score with his left jab and long right hands.

In Round 8, Hilmer starts to hammer Young-Ho with left jabs, hooks
and uppercuts to the head and body. It is a one-sided Round 8 for the
Champion, as Young-Ho teeters, but does not fall.

In Round 9, a weary Young-Ho comes out for another battering. Hilmer
starts again with an assortment of punches, and by 1:45 Mark, the
Referee - Ernesto Magana is looking to stop it, as the Korean is near
defenseless. But, he allows it to continue for another 30-seconds, as
Hilmer tee's off with more solid punches to Young-Ho's head, before
stopping it at 2:15 of Round 9.

Scorecards at the time of the stoppage.
* 79-72 (7-1-0 in Rounds)
* 79-73 (6-1-1 in Rounds)
* 79-74 (5-1-2 in Rounds)